FOI Request - Review of 101003893156 Planning Application 25/01203/APP (New Forres Academy)
Request 101003924858
Review of 101003893156 Planning Application 25/01203/APP (New Forres Academy)
I'm following up on my initial FOI sent on 2 Dec 25 and my subsequent follow up 12 Jan 26. I have yet to hear back from you, no extension or clarification has been requested.
Response 03-03-2026
Following your request for a review (our ref: 01003924858) of your Freedom of Information (FOI) Request – Planning Application 25/01203/APP (New Forres Academy) (our ref: 101003893156) - a review meeting was held on 9th February 2026. In attendance were the Information Governance Manager and Data Protection Officer, Service manager Education Estate, Solicitor, and Information Co-ordinator.
Your FOI Request (101003893156) from 2nd December 2026 was discussed.
We apologise for the lack of response; this was due to a combination of delays due to the closure during the festive period and unplanned staff absences.
Please see response below:
1. Applegrove Primary School Pitch – Agreement with Head Teacher
Sport Scotland's response references a letter from the applicant's agent (dated 12/11/25), stating that the proposed approach to the loss of the Applegrove Primary School playing pitch has been "discussed and agreed with the Primary School's Head Teacher."
Please provide:
The full details of the "proposed solution" that was discussed and agreed with the Head Teacher.
Any correspondence, meeting minutes, emails, briefing notes, risk assessments, or proposals relating to how Applegrove Primary School pupils' access to Roysvale Park would be managed as part of this solution.
There are no written minutes relating to the informal engagements with the Head Teacher on the proposal for the use of the Applegrove Playing Fields. Site design information used to support these engagements is the same as that made available in the public domain as part of the planning process and available on the Council website. Other than meeting invites the attached email are the only exchanges relates to the use of Roysvale
The formal procedure to manage future supervised access to Roysvale playing fields by Applegrove playing field will be developed with the school management over the next few months. It will draw on the long experience of managing a similar requirement for the adjacent Anderson’s Primary School that uses Grant Park for supervised outdoor activities.
Any documents or assessments showing how this solution meets policy requirement criterion iii, specifically regarding the replacement of lost recreation facilities.
The Council are satisfied that the ‘proposed solution’ meets the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) 1967 Regulations (as amended) that recommends that schools should have available and in close proximity to playing fields sized accordingly.
2. Policy Criterion iii – Evidence of Compliance
Please provide all evidence and documentation held by Moray Council showing how the applicant is assessed to have met criterion iii, i.e.:
> "meets a requirement to replace the facility which would be lost, either by a new facility or by upgrading an existing facility to provide a better quality facility. The location will be convenient for users and the overall playing capacity of the area will be maintained."
The statement pertains to correspondence with SportsScotland on the proposals for the new Forres Academy as part of the Planning Application consultation process. Attached are copies of the exchanges between SportsScotland and Design Team.
The relocation of the school requires statutory consultation to be undertaken. The statutory consultation process engaged with all local stakeholders, including Parent Councils, parents, pupils, staff, and the local community and community groups between 18 September 2025 and 13 November 2025, with public meetings undertaken to elicit feedback and address any concerns. The Consultation Report will be made available to the public and presented to ECLS committee and Council in February 2026.
The long term proposal for Roysvale Park is for the loss of a 12m strip along its boundary with Sanquhar Road to provide a safe bus drop of for pupils. Throughout the school build the existing football pitch will be maintained and the existing 300m running track will be reduced to 200m. The 300m running track will be recovered at the end of the project. The drainage plan for the new school site is expected to improve the drainage of the Roysvale site in the future.
Attached correspondence with SportsScotland on the proposals for the new Forres Academy as part of the Planning Application process.
It should be noted that Planning and Regulatory Service Committee considered the Forres Academy Planning Application and approved it as their meeting on 14 Jan 2026.